Understanding and enhancing CVE capacity in Victorian rural and regional communities

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This study aimed to investigate local community resources, capacities, gaps and vulnerabilities in relation to community understanding of and capacity for countering violent extremism in rural-regional Australia, particularly in relation to how such understandings and capacity may differ or reflect unique elements compared to metropolitan settings.

The analysis of the study data draws on theories of social-ecological resilience and analysis of the changing nature of community social networks and ties (Ungar, 2008, 2011; Grossman et al., 2017; Grossman, 2021; Ellis and Abdi, 2017; Rockenbauch and Sakdapolrak, 2017; Chambers, 2006) in order to explore rural-regional community perspectives concerning:

1. Understanding and definition(s) of radicalisation and violent extremism;

2. Levels of awareness about radicalisation and violent extremism in local rural-regional communities;

3. The extent to which radicalisation to violent extremism is perceived as an issue that poses local challenges;

4. Resilience factors covering both risks and protections that are likely to affect local community capacity in understanding and responding to violent extremist mobilisation and recruitment;

5. Willingness and/or confidence to identify and seek support for those who may be radicalising to violence;

6. Potential barriers for local community members in sharing concerns or information with authorities about violent extremism;

7. Resource base for finding information on, sharing concerns about or accessing services related to education and awareness programs on countering violent extremism;

8. What existing resources and capacities are already in place in local regional or rural communities to support the goals identified above, and what gaps may need to be addressed.